Knitted, Pleated, and Plaid
Armada and Her Mamma with Oklahoma Apple Blossoms,…
Kathryn Keen, Her Mother, and Her Doll
Air France and T.I.A.
The Doll Goes Everywhere
Merry Christmas from the Hughes, 1963
Opening a Can of Worms? (Detail)
Opening a Can of Worms?
A Girl and Her Parents at Devil's Den, Gettysburg,…
Family Photo with House and Auto
Mother and Daughter Motorists, York, Pa.
The Weary Farmer (Up to Date), by Frank W. Swallow
You're Not Safe During Leap Year in 1908—Unless Yo…
C. Fry, Auctioneer, Burbank, Ohio / How a Man Can…
A Sailor Strolling with His Family
Woman with Son and Mother in Five Poses
A Girl with Her Bunny and Mom
A Backseat Driver Ain't No Fun
Modeling Handbags at Niagara Falls, 1960
Howard and Jane Thurston Good Luck Throw-Out Card
See also...
" Cartes postales et photos historiques de partout dans le monde / Historische Postkarten und Photos aus aller Welt "
" Cartes postales et photos historiques de partout dans le monde / Historische Postkarten und Photos aus aller Welt "
Keywords
Authorizations, license
-
Visible by: Everyone -
All rights reserved
-
394 visits
Did You Know That Eleven and Twelve Make 23?
![Did You Know That Eleven and Twelve Make 23? Did You Know That Eleven and Twelve Make 23?](https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/23/88/45062388.0b335b86.640.jpg?r2)
![](https://s.ipernity.com/T/L/z.gif)
"What time is it down there?" "Just eleven." "It's twelve up here—you know eleven and twelve make 23." Handwritten: "Did this ever occur to you?"
So what does the mother mean by yelling "eleven and twelve make 23" down at the couple hanging out on the hammock in the front yard at midnight?
To understand the humor of this postcard from 1909, it helps to know that a fad about the meaning of the number "23" became wildly popular in the United States in the early twentieth century. Beginning around 1906 or 1907, "23"—along with "23 skidoo"—came to be used as a shorthand way of telling someone to "scram," "beat it," or "get lost," usually with a humorous or joking connotation.
Referring to "23" in unexpected ways—as on this postcard or on a valentine—and even placing "23" in surprising places (like on the front of a painted automobile prop in a novelty photo) was a humorous way to let others in on the joke.
So it's obvious that mom is keeping tabs on her daughter as she watches the couple from the second-floor window. And her reference to "23" makes it clear (to those in the know, at least) that she wants the guy to skedaddle.
Postmark, address, and handwritten note on the other side of this postcard:
Omaha & Ogden R.P.O. [railway post office], Apr 1, 1909.
Miss Hazle Hainline, Grand Island, Neb., 222 W. 6th St.
Hello Girlie, wish I could have had the pleasure to set and hear you sing and play tonight. How is mama and dad. Tonight is the first I have eaten since I left your place. Haven't been hungry. Mora.
113 Pub. by Keller Bros., Portland, Or.
![What Means This Shoe So Very New? Why,](https://cdn.ipernity.com/144/01/31/34010131.c3e41a0e.500.jpg?r2)
![Too Many Places to Go and Too Much to See](https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/32/42/41773242.b91afa61.500.jpg?r2)
So what does the mother mean by yelling "eleven and twelve make 23" down at the couple hanging out on the hammock in the front yard at midnight?
To understand the humor of this postcard from 1909, it helps to know that a fad about the meaning of the number "23" became wildly popular in the United States in the early twentieth century. Beginning around 1906 or 1907, "23"—along with "23 skidoo"—came to be used as a shorthand way of telling someone to "scram," "beat it," or "get lost," usually with a humorous or joking connotation.
Referring to "23" in unexpected ways—as on this postcard or on a valentine—and even placing "23" in surprising places (like on the front of a painted automobile prop in a novelty photo) was a humorous way to let others in on the joke.
So it's obvious that mom is keeping tabs on her daughter as she watches the couple from the second-floor window. And her reference to "23" makes it clear (to those in the know, at least) that she wants the guy to skedaddle.
Postmark, address, and handwritten note on the other side of this postcard:
Omaha & Ogden R.P.O. [railway post office], Apr 1, 1909.
Miss Hazle Hainline, Grand Island, Neb., 222 W. 6th St.
Hello Girlie, wish I could have had the pleasure to set and hear you sing and play tonight. How is mama and dad. Tonight is the first I have eaten since I left your place. Haven't been hungry. Mora.
113 Pub. by Keller Bros., Portland, Or.
![What Means This Shoe So Very New? Why,](https://cdn.ipernity.com/144/01/31/34010131.c3e41a0e.500.jpg?r2)
![Too Many Places to Go and Too Much to See](https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/32/42/41773242.b91afa61.500.jpg?r2)
Smiley Derleth, amylsacks, David Slater (Spoddendale) have particularly liked this photo
- Keyboard shortcuts:
Jump to top
RSS feed- Latest comments - Subscribe to the comment feeds of this photo
- ipernity © 2007-2024
- Help & Contact
|
Club news
|
About ipernity
|
History |
ipernity Club & Prices |
Guide of good conduct
Donate | Group guidelines | Privacy policy | Terms of use | Statutes | In memoria -
Facebook
Twitter
Sign-in to write a comment.